Painting roller



June 4, 1957 H. A. SCHUELER PAINTING ROLLER Filed Jan. 13, 1955INVENTOR. HENRY A.SCHUELER ATTORNEY United Sttes PAINTING ROLLERApplication January 13, 1955, Serial No. 431,577 3 Claims. (Cl. 15-239)This invention relates to painting and decorating, with particularreference to a roller for spreading paint or other coatings, liquid orsemi-liquid, or impressing or stippling a design on a fiat surface.

The principal object of my invention, generally considered, is toprovide painting equipment comprising an improved paint rollerapplicator for spreading paint evenly over a desired surface.

Another object of my invention is to provide a paint roller devicecomprising a rod formed with a handle portion, an axle portion disposedat an angle thereto, a roller with a paint absorbent cover, and providedwith bearing members rotatively mounted on said axle portion, capmembers and a pair of spacer bars extending rigidly from one cap memberto the other, the ends of which are respectively secured to each otherand to said cap members by said bearing members acting as hollow rivets,each spacer bar having outwardly embossed, longitudinally extending,ribs adapted to press into and bitingly engage the inner surface of theroller cover to hold it firmly in place during use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a paint roller withconnecting members extending longitudinally thereof and arranged tofirmly engage the internal surface of its cover between its ends, so asto hold it in position.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following specification taken with the accompanyingdrawings. In the drawings wherein like reference characters denote likeparts in the several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a paint roller embodying myinvention.

Figure 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line I[-Il of Figure 1,in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 3 is an elevational view, with parts in axial section, of theroller head comprising end caps and spacer bars which hold the rollercover or hollow cylindrical paint-carrying portion, a fragmentary partof which is shown in axial section.

Figure 4 is a transverse sectional view on the line lV-lVof Figure 1, inthe direction of the arrows.

Figure 5 is a fragmentary axial sectional view on the line V-V of Figurel, in the direction of the arrows.

The present invention involves structural refinements in a paint rollerfor the application of paint or other coating liquid or semi-liquidand/or for impressing or stippling a design upon a fiat surface. Theroller device of my invention is so constructed that the head may carrya removable pile roller cover. That is, the cover is easily removed forcleaning or discarding purposes, while during use it is held-tightenough so that undesired displacement is avoided. This ease ofreplaceability, in combination with desirable structural featureshereinafter described, are important features of the invention.

Referring to the drawings in detail, like parts being designated by likereference characters, there is shown a roller painter device generallydesignated 10, and having a combination handle and axle member formedfrom atent O 2,794,202 Eetented June 4, 19 57 2 a desirably steel rod11. The free end of the handle or hand-adjacent portion of this rod 11is provided with a desirably wooden handle or hand grip 12, of a shapeoval or elliptical in cross-section, as shown in Figure 4, tocomfortably fit a users hand, and from which the rod extends straight aconvenient distance. The rod is then shaped or bent at approximately aright angle, providing a straight portion 13., It is then shaped or bentagain at a right angle, to form aportion 14, generally parallel to theportion to which the wooden handle directly connects. The rod is thenshaped or bent at a right angle, or so as to be generally parallel tothe portion 13, to form an axle or. journal portion 15. This portion 15has mounted thereon a paint roller head, generally designated 16. It isalso,

provided with a stop member or portion 17 which may be crimped orotherwise secured to the axle portion 15', to limit movement of theroller to the right, as viewed in Figure l, as by serving as an abutmentfor the adjacent bearing member thereof. Movement to the left islimitedby the attaching screw 27 threaded into the end of the axleportion 15, as shown in Figure 5. i

The paint roller head or frame structure 16 has a paint-dispersinghollowcylindrical cover IPOI'lllOIl 18, which may be formed ofac onvenientlength and diameter depending upon the area to be painted and the depthof the pile thereon. This cover portion 18 is slidable and tightly heldon the roller, head 16. It is desirably formed as a core 19, covered bya fabric 21 possessing a pile of dynel, nylon, oran or similar syntheticor naturalmaterialwhich holds a desired amount of paint or other Thedepth of this pile may be short or coating material. long, depending onthe type of coating to be used The core 19 of the roller cover isdesirably formed of resin-plasticdmpregnated heavy paper tubing whichwill not absorb or be aifected by paint, and will not disintegrate,crack, rustor dissolve throughout a normal life.

A suitable material is that sold by the Cleveland Container;

Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, under the name of Cleve lite? grade BEtubes. However, 1 do not wish to be limited to the use of this material.The fabric 21 is cut to a desired size and fastened .to the core portionin any desired manner, asby means of a suitable adhesive, preferably ina spiral fashion. The spiral winding of the fabric is employed toeliminate undesirable breaks in its continuity.

The roller head 16 comprises a pair of spacer members or bars 22,desirably formed of light metal such as aluminum, .032 inch thick,channeled as illustrated, and provided with longitudinal corrugations 23intermediate the ends thereof. These corrugations may protrude outwardlyfrom the normal surface of each bar, a distance of about one-sixteenthinch or .062 inch, and be rounded in-outline. In the present embodimentI show five of such corrugations on each spacer bar, evenly spaced about18 degrees. The whole circumferential dimension of each bar may be aboutdegrees, as illustrated. As will be seen from Figure l, the corrugatingof the bars contract them in width slightly between their ends. The,ends of said-bars are flanged inwardly or bent toward one another,leaving the portions therebetween a convenient length, such as about 6/2 inches, overlapped, and connected to end caps 24. These end caps 24,are also desirablyformed of aluminum of the same thickness'as the barswThey comprise centrally apertured circular end portions, desirablydished inwardly slightly around their apertures, and hollow cylindricalflanges desirably of uniform length around the'periphery and extendingtoward one another. The end flanges of the spacer bars and theend capsare secured 'togetherby means of bearing members 25.

These bearing members are each desirably formed of ayroanoa anon-rusting cuprous metal such as bronze or brass, apertured to receivethe mounting axle portion 15, headed on the outer end, as indicated at26 to engage at the one end of the roller the abutment 1'7, and .at theother end the attaching screw 27. The other end of each abutment isupset or riveted over after assembly of the parts, as indicated at 28,to cause said bearing members to function as hollow rivets connectingthe'en'd caps 24 to the adjacent flanged ends of the spacer members 22,over which said end-caps telescope.

As will be seen in Figure 3, the spacer bars 22 not only have their endsbent at approximately right angles to overlap one another and receivethe-connecting bearings, but they are ofiT-set slightly inwardly, asindicated at 29, so that they provide indentations receiving the flanges.31 of the caps 24. In other words, the outer surfaces of theflangesfilare desirably at the same radius from the axis of the roller,as the uncorrugated portions of the spacer bars 22. This means thatintermediate portions of said spacer bars lie approximately in thecylindrical plane of the cap side wall portions or flanges and thecoverportion 18 may be applied without much friction, even though thefitis fairly close with respect to each end cap 24, until it reaches thecorrugations 23 which, as will be seen, decrease in length from thecenter one toward those on either side thereof.

Upon reaching the corrugations, the interior surface of the core 19 ofthe roller coveris slightly expanded, or the corrugations sequentiallybite thereinto .as the roller cover is gradually moved to normalposition centered over the head.16. After being positioned, therollercover 18 is thus tightly held in place by the frictional or bitingengagement between the corrugations 23 and the interior surface of thecore .19, whereby thereis not only during normal or conventional use, noundesired relative turning between the cover 18 and the roller head 16,but there is also no undesired longitudinal movement therebetween. Atthe same time the fit between the roller cover 18 and the end caps 24 isso close that no appreciable amount of paint, or other coating material,gets inside of the roller during use.

Although I have specified the roller parts, with the exception of thebearings, as being made of aluminum, I do not wish to be limited to thismaterial, as other materials including steel, preferably the stainlessvariety to avoid rusting, may be employed. The rod 11 although desirablyformed of steel, is not limited to this material. If steel is employedit is desirably plated or galvanized, if not of the non-rusting variety.

Having'now described this invention in detail in accordance with therequirements of the patent statutes, various changes and modificationswill suggest themselves to those skilled in this art, and it is intendedthat such changes and modifications shall fall within the scope andspirit of the invention,'as defined in the following claims.

I claim:

1. A roller device adapted for the application of paint and the likecomprising a steel rod shaped to form a handle portion and an axleportion disposed at an angle to said handle portion,'a framestructure'mounted for rotation on said axle portion, and a cover portionconsisting of a fibrous tubular member of an internal diametercorresponding with the external diameter of said frame structure so thathis properly carried thereon, covered with material adapted to holdpaint, said frame structure com prising an aluminum cap member adjacenteach end of saidaxle portion, each cap member being formed with acylindrical side wall of uniform length "around its periphery-and overwhich said tubular member is axiallyslidable,- a 'cuprous bearingforeach cap member and journalled on said axle portion, and a pair ofchannelled aluminum-spacer bars, intermediate portions of which lieapproximately in the cylindrical plane of the cap'side 4 wall portions,the end portions of which are bent at approximately right angles to theintermediate portions, overlapped with respect to those of the otherbar, telescoped in and secured to the cap member by respectivelyeceiving the bearing of each cap member in appropriate apertures, whichbearings are riveted over the assembled parts for holding them together,each of the spacer bars being formed with a series of longitudinaloutwardlyprojecting corrugations decreasing in length from a central onetoward those at the sides, the ends of each corrugation being tapered togradually merge into the uncorrugated portions of said bars, whereby onassembly of the tubular member with the frame structure, thecorrugations gradually bite into the inner fibrous surface thereof andpositively prevent slippage during normal use.

2. A roller device adapted for the application of paint and the like,comprising a rod in angular form and providing a handle portion and anaxle portion, a roller frame structure mounted for rotation on said axleportion, said structure consisting of a cap member adjacent each end ofsaid axle portion with a cylindrical side wall of uniform length aroundits periphery and adapted to snugly telescope Within a tubular member,covered with material adapted to hold paint, a bearing for each capmember journalled on said axle portion, and a pair of spacer barsintermediate portions of which lie approximately in the cylindricalplane of the cap side Wall portions, the .end portions of which are bentat approximately right angles to the intermediate portions, overlappedwith respect to those of the other bar, telescoped in and secured to thecap members by respectively receiving the bearing of each cap member inappropriate apertures, which bearings are shaped so that they functionas hollow rivets for holding the parts assembled, each of the spacerbars being formed with a series of longitudinal outwardly-projectingcorrugations decreasing in length from a central one toward those at thesides, the ends of each corrugation being tapered to gradually mergeinto the uncorrugated portions of said bars.

3. A roller device adapted for the application of paint and the like,comprising a rod shaped to form a handle portion and an axle portion, aroller frame structure mounted for rotation on said axle portion, saidstructure consisting of a cap member adjacent each end of said axleportion formed with a cylindrical side wall of uniform length around itsperiphery and projecting toward the other cap member, a bearing for eachcap member journalled on said axle portion, and a pair of spacer'bars,intermediate portions of which lie approximately in the cylindricalplane of the cap side wall portions, the end portions of which are bentat approximately right angles to the intermediate portions, overlappedwith respect to those of the other bar, telescoped in and secured to thecap members by respectively receiving the bearing of each cap member inappropriate apertures, said bearings being shaped so that they functionas hollow rivets for holding the parts assembled, the spacer barpartsbetween the intermediate and end portions thereof being inset to adiameter corresponding with the inner diameterof the cap side walls,snugly receiving the same, leaving shoulders at the junctions with saidintermediate portions closely approached by the inner edges of the capside walls, so as to provide a substantially continuous cylindricalsurface of uniform diameter from'the outer ends of said caps to theintermediate portions of said spacer bars 'for snugly fitting in atubular member adapted to hold paint on its outer surface.

References Cited in the file of this patent

